Catskills Bureau Confidential: Motor Club gave more than $279K to worthy causes

Tuesday

Jan 29, 2013 at 2:00 AMJan 29, 2013 at 8:50 AM

The Monticello Motor Club and its members demonstrated their support in 2012 to a variety of not-for-profit organizations that serve Sullivan County and the region with more than $279,000 in contributions of cash and in-kind donations.

The Monticello Motor Club and its members demonstrated their support in 2012 to a variety of not-for-profit organizations that serve Sullivan County and the region with more than $279,000 in contributions of cash and in-kind donations.

Among groups aided were the Boys and Girls Club, The Center for Discovery, Allyson Whitney Foundation, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, the Liberty Soap Box Derby, Forestburgh Playhouse, Hospice of Orange and Sullivan, Monticello High School Academy of Finance and local law enforcement.

Creating opportunities for disadvantaged children is central to the Motor Club's efforts, the club said, as evidenced by nearly $200,000 of the year's contributions directly benefitting local youth.

The Alice Kreiter Senior Citizen Prom Committee, including Monticello Boys & Girls Club youths, will be in the Sullivan County Government Center lobby Friday, serving lunch.

Proceeds go to the Alice Kreiter Senior Citizen Prom, set for May 11 at the Monticello Firehouse. The free event, with dinner and entertainment, is open to all senior citizens in the Monticello School District. Call Kathy Kreiter at 665-1333 or Barbi Neumann Marty at 747-9174.

Barry Lewis

Some of the county's most talented student musicians will showcase their jazz chops during the 17th annual Liberty Jazz festival at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Liberty Middle School gym.

Percussionist Larry Balestra, a former music teacher in the Rondout Valley and Tri-Valley school districts, will lead a pre-festival clinic for students from 3-5:30 p.m.

A Massachusetts theater professional is the new executive director of the Catskill Art Society, the group's board said Friday. Bradley Diuguid will take over for current executive director, Ann Manby, Feb. 15.

The Monticello native is currently operations and audience-services manager for Puppet Showplace Theatre in Brookline.

"His professional experience, interests in the performing arts and education, and understanding and appreciation of this area will be extremely helpful to managing the current facility, and as we begin to explore ways to expand the CAS Arts Center into the second-floor space," board president Charlie Irace said.